Why Quitting TikTok Was the Right Thing To Do

It had nothing to do with privacy. It was for health.

Don’t get me wrong. I love me some TikTok. When I first came across the app a few months ago, I considered writing a piece singing its praises.

Why not? There was a lot to like.

• I loved how creative, positive, and upbeat many people were. I felt I needed to see more of that later when the rest of the world seems to lack positivity.
• I loved how trans and gay youth found support and freedom to be who they are.
• I loved seeing videos from people from all over the world. It made me feel part of the world just by watching all these fun, smart little videos.

I wasn’t too worried about the privacy issues people were talking about. There was a lot of conflicting info, and I’ve been online in one form or another since 1988. My privacy ship sailed long ago, although I take what steps I reasonably can now to keep my info secure.

No, the problem wasn’t privacy.

Instead, it seemed that every time I had a few moments to myself to sit down, I’d take out my phone, open the app, and watch video after short video. I had to forcibly tear myself away to get back to work or whatever else I was supposed to be doing.

You may be able to guess where this is going

I was getting addicted to TikTok.

Opening the app was getting to be automatic. As soon as I had the phone out for any other reason than making a call, I watched videos.

It’s a little embarrassing to admit. But there it is.

And it seemed harmless — just a light-hearted diversion.

The thing is, I’m a freelancer. And I run a couple of side hustles. I really don’t have time to devote to nonstop video viewing, no matter how charming or clever. I got things to do.

Over the month, I realized my social media presence was evaporating. That was a problem. I run five Twitter accounts and three Instagrams to help promote my art, blogs, and freelance services as a writer and designer.

Anyone who hustles in the freelance world knows you need to stay on top of your social media presence if you use that as an avenue for getting new clients and readers.

Guess who hadn’t been getting many new clients and readers?

In which I make a decision

It’s been a week since I took TikTok off my phone.

My productivity has gone up. My hustle is returning. My engagement is rising back to where it should be.

I’m even writing more. This very piece is being written on the same phone I was previously using to watch videos of people lip-syncing to scenes from Family Guy.

Not everyone is going to have this problem. I admit I can have an addictive nature at times. I went through something similar back in the 90s with online text games. I had a wicked and strange addition to crossword puzzles in the mid-80s. And, of course, there’s a reason why I’ve not touched alcohol in 20 years.

I’m just glad I recognized what was happening and put a stop to it in time.

Should you quit TikTok?

Not everyone is as prone to addictive behaviour as I can be at times. Many people have better discipline and self-control. I acknowledge and applaud that.

But I feel I’d be doing a disservice to people if I didn’t share my story and, perhaps, nudge you into asking yourself a similar question.

Do you have a seemingly harmless addiction or obsession that could be getting in the way of your productivity?

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying short, fun videos. There’s nothing wrong with a little Call of Duty now and then or reading X-Files fan fiction.

But too much of anything can be harmful. Especially if it makes other areas of your life suffer.

This isn’t really about TikTok. That app just happened to be the thing blocking me for a time until I recognized how it affected my life.

For you, it could be something else. Alcohol. Candy Crush. Internet porn. Scratch-off lottery tickets. I get it.

We all need distraction sometimes for the pressures of life.

But we also need a sense of perspective and restraint.

Spend a few minutes examining what you’re doing. Even if you’re not obsessing over something, take some time to appreciate that.

We’re all just trying to make it through the day.

Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my Bi-Weekly Word Roundup newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time.